NEWPORT (Shropshire): LSC at the Tav, Market Drayton’s Stag and Pheasant A maintained their momentum with victories during week 21 of the Newport Pool League. LSC kept hold of a one-point lead over the Stag and the Pheasant are three behind with 13 games to go.

LSC snatched both points with a crucial 1-5 win against home rivals, the Railway Tavern at Upper Bar. Andy Lewis, John Williams, Greg Heathcote and Paul Trevor sealed the points in the singles, although Jack Dicken and Adam Stone pulled the final frame back as a consolation for the Tavern against Trevor and Lewis.

The Stag faced a tricky visit to Chetwynd Aston to play the Wheatsheaf and came away unscathed without dropping a frame. Pheasant A overcame the Royal Navy Seals with the loss of just the final frame. Ant Allen, Ian Swinnerton, Matt Mansell and Colin Smith sealed the match with wins over Gary Bolton, Matt Bowering, Ben Longstaff and Ray Talbot and there was no way back for the Seals after that.

King’s Head A faced a tricky home clash against the in-form Horns and they produced their best result of the season to whitewash the Gnosall side. A good clearance by Mick Collins rattled away skipper Dai Smith and Irene Whittington followed up to beat Wayne Baker. A returning Ross Goodchild made it 3-0 and Ed Keenan got the better of Martyn Halford to make it four. Fledgling Conor Keenan joined the party to seal the rout for the King’s.

Shakespeare A hosted Junction B and signed Lauren Heathcote on the night to make up the squad. She lost out to Steve Peaces in rack one and it went from bad to worse for the home side when Ryan Morris got the better of skipper Andy Potter. Dave Marshall and Andy Wakefield levelled the match with wins over Stu Till and Mick Ashforth, but the Junction regrouped and won both the doubles frames to claim a 2-4 win.

Pheasant B came away with both points after a 2-4 win over the Royal Navy Veterans in Bellman’s Yard. Simon Walley pipped Mark Kijuk on the black to make it 0-1 and Mike Jones squeezed passed Gerry Nunn to make it two. Dean Smith pulled a frame back against Luke Jones – his fourth successive singles win - and Alan Pritchett got the better of Tom Sayce to level. But the Pheasant dug in and claimed both doubles frames to seal the points, with Liam Matthews joining the fray in rack six.

Junction A cruised through against Shakespeare B to kick-start their disappointing season. The Norbury side were in fine form and two doubles rack wins confirmed the rout after Hyla Marklew, Steve Roycroft, Gordon Sidebottom and Sion Richards had beaten Barry Smith, Jess and Jane Hilditch and Kim Rigby in the singles.

The Haberdashers entertained the Navigation in Knighton and the visitors ran out 1-5 winners. A good run of wins could put Newport Legion back in the hunt for the top three but their result was not available as we closed for press.